Shoe counter



1811.47, 1930. .Gl E. BR|TTA|N 1,742,895

SHOE COUNTER Filed April 4. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 7, 1930. E, BRITTAlN 1,742,895

SHOE COUNTER Filed April 4, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented J an. 7, 1930 UNIrED STATES tirages PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. A'BRI'IJ'.LAIN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS H. IIARR'IMAN,

' OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, AS TRUSTEE' SHOE COUNTER Application led April 4, 1928.

This invent-ion relates to certain improvements in shoe counters, or heel stileners, which are moulded in U-orm `lrom sheet material, usually stiff leather, leather board, or liber board, and which are, also, of the type in which bothsides of the counter' extend beyond the heel breast for a substantial portion oi, or the greater vportion of the length of the shank part of the shoe, counters of this type being very generally used in that class of shoes for women known as pumps or slippers, although they may be advantageously employed in shoes oil other type.

In lasting shoes in which Acounters oi this "description are employed, much difficulty has been encountered in making the counter conform to the last at all points at which 1t is designed to be held 1n close Contact there- Y with, for vreasonsexplained to some length in my prior PatentNo. 1,636,982, in which a construction' is disclosed which overcomes this di'lliculty to some extent in that it enables the frontend portions of the counter to be conformed to the inclined shank por- -tions without causing the counter to be pushed back away from the heel end of the last. However, as lasts are ordinarily now constructed, the sides thereof, adjacent the f bottom, converge from points adjacent the middle of the sides of the heelas they extend towards the middle of the shank, the extent ot the inclination towards `the middle line at the inner side of the last being substantially greater than that at the outer side.

in .molding counters by the methods ordinarily employed, the inturned flange is molded fiat and the sides are molded so'that they are parallel from the points above referred to, at the middle of the sides ot' the i heel, to the front ends thereof. Consequent- Serial No. 267,278.

as do the lines of the corresponding edges of the sides at the bottom of the last, said sides usually extending divergently :trom points adjacent the middle of the shank to the ball, the extent of this divergence from the middle line being somewhat greater at the inner side than at the outer side. On account oit' the approximately right angular formation of the counter at the junction of the iiange and sides, the counter is very inflexible along the line of the vertex of this angle, so that it is very difficult to bend the counter inward suiiiciently from the line in which it is moulded, to force the inner vertex ot' the angle into coincidence with the outer'corner of the edge of the innersole, which will have been secured to the last before lasting, throughout the entire length of the counter side portions. Consequently, while the counter may be forced into approximate conformity with the last, it is difficult to do this at both sides thereof, and usually results in a failure of thecounter to lit closely to the last at its inner side near the bottom at points in iront of the middle of .the heel. Also, in some instances, the formation of the last is such that, when the counter, as molded, is placed thereon, the lange at one side engages the bottom of the innersole and does not engage at the other by reason of the fact that the outer side of the heel seat of a last is frequently built up more than at the inner side, so that the heel seat is notlevel transversely but issomewhat inclined.: YIn consequence, the flange portion at the outer side of the last will hold the fiange portion at the inner -sidethereof away from the last bottom or inner sole surface and difficulty is encountered under such conditions in forcing the angular portion of thecounter inward or downward, at the inner side, sufficiently to bring the liange throughout its entire width into lirm contact with the bottom, and if this is not done, the top edge of the counter will be lower atthe inner side than at the outer side. Failure to force the angular portion of the counter into position, so that the side thereof engages the edge of theV innersole, also results in serious well known shoe making defects, as does almost any lack of conformity of the counter with the last at the time of the lasting operation.

of the formation usually employed for the usual straight sided counters. VFor this and for various other reasons, the increased cost of right and left counters is so great as to be considered prohibitive in many instances.

The primary objects of'my invention are to provide a molded shoe counter which may be formed from stiff leather or fiber board and may be conformed without difficulty to either a right or a left last of the types above referred to, after having beenmolded on dies ordinary type of counter, andwhich is so constructed that it may be iexed without difliculty by the laster, when performing the .usual lasting operation, along the line of the vertex of the angular formation between the flange and the sides, at each side thereof, so that these portions may be forced into practically perfect conformance with the last at the edge of its bottom from points at the middle of the side of the heel seat to the front ends of the sides of the counter, even if they are extended throughout practically the'entire length of the shank part, and to accomplish these results without objectionable increase inthe manufacturing cost of the counter and without impairment of its strength or effectiveness as a stiffener for the heel and shank portions of the shoe.

I accomplishthese objects, primarily, by vforming in the counter blank before it is molded a series of slits thereinwhich extend transversely ofthe line ofthe vertex of the angle between the flange and the sides of the counter but terminate shortof the edges of the blank, and more particularly by forming f theY slitsby cuts vwhich extend obliquely to the surface ofthe counter in lines which are oblique to the lines of the said vertex, as hereinaft'er more particularly described. For a more'complete disclosure of my invention, kreference is made to thev following specification, in connection with the accompanying drawing in which: c

Figs. 1, '3 and 4 are plan views of a counter blank showing different stages in the process of manufacture.y K y Fig. 2 is a sectional view at line 2-2 of Fig. 3 indicating a step in the process.

Fig. 10 is a similar View showing a modification.

Figs. 11 to 14 are detail sectional views illustrating other modifications, Figs. lliand 13 being sections at lines 11-11 and 13-13 of Figs. 12 and 14. and

Figs. 12 and 14 being sections at lines 12--12 1 and 14-14 of Figs. 11 and 13, respectively.

In producing ai. counter embodying the present invention a blank, as a, is first died out from sheet material in the ordinary manner vand in identically the shape previously employed, this operation being performed While the stock is in temper.

According to my invention the next operation consists in cutting a series of slitsb thru the blank in transverse relation to the line 2 2 of Fig. 3, along which the bottom edge portion of the counter is bent inward to form the usual bottom fiange, saidslits being approximately bisected by said line 2-2, so that they extend to equidistant points therefrom, and being of suchlength that they terminate at their ends next the edge which is later to form the edge of the bottom Han e,

atpoints approximately midway between t e edge and said line.

Informing said slits, two separate gangs of arc shaped knives are preferably provided, which are held in parallelismV and moved longitudinally by suitable means in predetermined oblique relation to the surface of the counter, which will be held at on a suitable bed. As indicated in Fig. 2, in performing this operation the blank will be held on the bedhorizontally with the side thereof uppermost which is to be the outer side of the counter, and the knives k will be held at an acute angle, preferably about 30, to the horizontal and be arranged intwo reciprocally mounted gangs, one for each side portion ofV the counter, each gang being heldin directly opposite relation to the other, so that they may,

be moved downward and towards each other, or towards the middle of the counter, toper.- form the cutting operation, and form theyslits b in the blank which will be inclined in the same manner. The cutting edges ofV the `12o knives 7c are each formed on an arc, which may approximate to a semi-circle, but which Y is preferab-ly somewhat less than a semi-cir cle, the arrangement of the knives bein .such that the concave` side of the cutting edge of each knife faces towards the middle of the blank. As a result a series of curved, in-Y clined slits will be formed in each half portion of the blank, as indicated in Fig. 3, which are so arranged that 'the convex sides of the Islits of :each series facetowards 'the endof the'blank which is'adj acentitheretoand the inclination Aofthe vface vof yseverance of eachslit'is suchithat each face extends towards the :middle of :the blank as it 'extends from the outer to the :inner .side thereof.

It :may therefore Ybe rconsidered that .two series of tongues c are formed on the outer sideof'the blank, each 'of whichhas a curved end v.and is undercut orbeveled on its under side Yto form Aa sharp edge, the tongues of each 'series extending from the middle 'to- Wardsfthe iadjacentend `of the blank. These tongues do not, however, project outward from :the outerfsurface `of the blank, but lie fiat thereon, orare made to do so ,by subsequent operations.

'The lnextfoperationis 'what is known as the clam shelling operation, in which theblank is rolled into a somewhat curved, dished form, as lindicated'inFig. 4, so that its insertion betweenfthe dies of the'molding machine may be more easily accomplished. By .this operafion the slits' are opened, slightly at their outer ends, that is, the dishing operation causesithe surfaces, formed by making the slits,to slide'slightly one onthe other, so that the outer edgesof the slits do not exactly coincideyaslindicatedin Figs. .tand 8.

The 'next and finaloperation in the formation of the counter is theusual molded operation lin which 'the lblank vis molded .into U- form and its edge yportion is bent inward, alongdineQ-, to form the bottom .flange CZ, which is molded iat and at Vapproximately right angles to the sides e, which 'extend in parallelism'from theheelend, as `indicated in Fig-.55.

The sperformance of this operation is materially facilitated by Areason of the slits, which greatly vincrease ythe flexibility of the material. lnaddition tothe slits Y) which are formed in the portions of the sides which are adapted to extend infront vof the .heel,two slits b are preferably formed at points adjacentr and equidistant from 'the middle of thecounter, or insuch positions that, when the ymolding .operation has been performed, these slits will'belocated approximatelymidway between the middle of the back of the heel portion and the ,points adjacentthe `middle vof fthe Isides ofthe heel, from which 'the sides ofthe :counter extend in parallelism. Theiforination ofthe slitsfbat these points is primarily radvantageous I:in Vreducing the strain on the molding machine,as all counters practically lconform to the back half of the heel of the ,last -when applied thereto. The bending ofthe blank at the heel end tends to open the outer `ends ofthe slits b slightly, asfindicated in Figs. andS, but the pressure of the molding-diesiiattens the tongue portions :formedby all ofthe slits, so that the latterare practically indiscernible. The action ofthe molding dieslon'the sides of thecounter includes a drawing actiontowards its "ends of the counter, andV this action'tends not only ito close'the slits, but also'to elongate' the tongues formed thereby 'to such an Qextent that the latterslightly overlap 'the material'fatfthe opposite sidesof Itheslits. Asa result, to fthe casual observer, the slits are `practically obliterated in'the'iinished counter.

The number and location ofthe slits :may befvarie'd accordingrto circumstancesandfexpediency. For example, they may Ybe advantageously employed not only inthe approximate locations indicated in 'full lines in the drawings, but also at points between the breast end ofthe heel seat and the ymiddlerof the heel seat, and also yclose to the extreme ends ofthe sides, as'indicated yin dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7.

The formation of the slits across the line of the vertex of the anglewbetween the :flange and sides results in a greatly increasedflexibility/ofthe counter along 'this line, softhat, when the counter is placed in position on `the last, the portions along .this line rmay .be

readily` pressed inward until the outer corner ,l

of the innersole on the last is engaged by the iniiei'yertex line of the counter-throughout its length, as indicated in Figs. `6 and 7 This inward bending lbegins to -take lplace at points adjacent the middle of the heel, at which points the sides e begin'to diverge from the last, before the counter is bent from its molded formation, rand countinues ithroughout the rest of the length ofthe sides. The extent to which a side is bent inward along the vertex line depends primarily on whether it has been placed on a right or a left last. Inlconforming a side to the inward'curvature of the edge'of the inner sola/from the front portion of the heel to the -front portion of the shank, by pressing the Vertex lportion of the Corresponding part o-ffthe counter inward, the tendency will be 'for the tongue portions c to override the portion'of fthe material directly vin frontv thereof, as indicated inFg. 9. lVhile it is usually'less difficult to conform the counter, at the vertex of the angle, tothe outer edge of the innersole thanrto the inner edge thereof, some inward bendingalong the l outer vertex line is usually necessary, so that the formation of the slits in 'bothside portions of the counter is advantageous, *aside from the fact that they enable any counter-to be readily used either' for a right or a left shoe.

The arc shaped Vformation of the slits is `not essential, as other forms, in which the opposite portions thereof extend obliquely to the line 2 2, maybe equally-eiiective, for example, an equally effective form is illustrated in Fig. 10, in which the slits?)2 are of V-formation, the vertex of the V being somewhat rounded.

While theslits have beendescribed as lcut completely thru the niaterialfand while this formation may bev preferable, the advantages of my invention will be sufficiently secured by cutting the slits `only part way therethru, and by forming suchrslits either on the outer or inner side of the counter in the locations above specified, `such construction bein shown in Figs. 11 to 14.

In Figs. 11 and 12V the formation of V- shaped slits b3 on the inner'side of the counter is indicated, said slits being cut at an inclination to the counter surface along the vertex line as before-described, but cut at such a depth that they do not emerge at the outer side of the counter. In this instance it is immaterial whetherthe portions ofthe slits at each side ofthe vertex line converge ask they extend towards the middle of the counter, or towards the end of the side in which they are located, for the reason that, in performing the molding operation, there is no drawing or sliding action on the inner side of the counter which would tend to turn back the tongues formed bythe converging slit portions.

In conforming the angular portion of the counter to the inward curve of the edge of the shank part of t-he innersole and last, when the slits are formed on the inner side Vof the counter, the inward bending of this portion of the counter would tend to open the inner ends of the slits, as indicated in l1. The degree of flexibility which is secured by ythe formation of the slits b3 would be practically the same as if the slits extended entirely thru the'counter. .s

In Figs. 13 and 14 the vform'ationfof slits Y b4, which opento the outer 4surface of the Y therethru.

counter, but do not extend entirely therethru, is illustrated. In this instance the cuts forming the slits are made the same as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3V or 10, except that they are not extended entirely thru the material.

The action in use is also similar to that previously described, as, when the slitted portions are pushed downward and inward to bring the vertex of the anglefbetween'the flange and side into coincidenceywith the corner of the bottomof the last or innersole thereon, the tongues formed by the slits b4 will override the adjacent portions of the material, as indicated in Fig. 13.

The effectiveness of the counterl as a support for the upper and shank of the shoeis practically in no'way impaired by the formation of the slits, whether they are extended entirely thru the material, or only partly The particular formation of the slits is important for several reasons, aside from their particularlocation in the counter. It isimportant that they do not extend to edge of the flange, as the flange would thus be weakened and be liable vto be torn rby the last-- ing pincers, also that they be formed to extend obliquely to the surface and that their opposite portions be oblique to the vertex line, as the pliability is increased without substantially reducing the strength. Moreover,

a cut perpendicular to the surface or in a straight line, particularly if nearly perpendicular to the ,vertex line, would probably cause the material to crack beyond the endsY ofthe cut, so that the sides of thecounter would be so weakened as to break transverse-Y The formation of the slits in a manner to provide under cut tongues is also important, as sliding movement thereof on the adjacent surfaces, when the angular portion is pressed inward, is readily permitted.v The direction in which the tongues extend in each side portion is important on accountof, the necessary drawing action of the molding dies, except when the tongues are formed on theY inner tongues should extend in the direction of the vertex line, so that the middle line of the tongues approximately coincides therewith.

The formation ofthe slits,as described, not only enables the angularl portion of the coun- Vter to be readily conformed to the inward side of the counter, but in all the forms'the v scribed may be closely conformed to the last and innersole throughout the concave portions thereof and its adjacent flange portion may be held in firm engagement throughout ythe width thereof, with the sole bottom, the

appearance of the shoemay be thereby imy proved and the top edges of the counter mayVv be held at a uniform level at each side of the shoe. Moreover, all the'advantages of counters which are moldedv as rights and lefts, to fit the last accurately, are secured, without the disadvantages of greatly increased vcost of production and of other well known disadvantages incident to their use.

I claim: Y Y

l. A shoe counter of sheetv material moulded in U-form to 4fit the heel end of a last and having its sides arranged to extend'opposite the shank portion of a shoe and one edge 'portion thereof inturned to form a bottom tom engaging flange, each side portion of the Y counter having a plurality of suitably spacedk slits cut therein across the line of the vertex of the anglebetween said sidesand. flange,

said slits terminating in the material at each side of said line at points approximately equidistant therefrom.

3. A shoe counter of sheet material moulded in U-form to fit the heel end of a last and having its sides arranged to extend opposite the shank portion of shoe and one edge portion thereof inturned to forma bottom engaging flange, each side portion of the counter having a series of slits cut therein at intervals across the line of the vertex of the angle between the sides and flange in oblique relation to said line and terminating within the material adjacent said line at each side thereof.

il. A shoe counter of sheet material moulded in U-form to fit the heel end of a last and having its sides arranged to extend opposite the shank portion of a shoe and one edge portion thereof inturned to form a bottom engaging flange, the side portions of the counter having a series of suitably spaced slits cut therein across the vertex of the angle `rbetween the sides and flange, said slits being terminated within the material adjacent the line of said vertex at each side thereof and having their opposite portions oblique to said line. f

5. A shoe counter of sheet material'moulded in U-form to t the heel end of a last and having its sides arranged to extend opposite the shank portion of a shoe and one edge portion thereof inturned to form a bottom engaging flange, each side portion of the counter having a plurality of suitably spaced slits cut therein across the line of the vertex of the angle between the sides and flange in oblique relation thereto, and the slits in each side portion being disposed in approximate parallelism with each other and terminating within the material adjacent and at each side of said line.

6. A shoe counter of sheet material moulded in U-form to fit the. heel end of a last and having its sides arranged to extend opposite the shank portion of a shoe and one edge portion thereof inturned to form a bottom engaging flange, each side portion of the counter having suitably spaced slits cut therein across the line of the vertex of the angle between the sides and flange, the sides of each slit being inclined towards the end of the side portion of the counter in which it is located from its inner side outward.

7. A Shoe counter of sheet material moulded in U-form to fit the heel end of a last and having its sides arranged to extend opposite the shank portion of a shoe and one edge portion thereof inturnedto form a bottom engaging flange, each side portion of the counter having a plurality of suitably spaced slits cut therein across the line of the vertex of the angle between the sides and flange, the portions of each slit at the opposite sides of said line extending divergently therefromztowardsthe middleaoftheicoulrter andi terminating in the material#Y thereof?, to Y form` aA series! of tongues: in;` each side l ponL tion which: extend towardsthe :endthereofinl the direction of said line.` Y

8'. A. shoe'counter of sheet material mouldedfin'vU-form to fit the heel end of a last. andhaving itssides: arranged to,` extend op-` posite the shank portion'. of a shoeqandV one edgezportionf thereof inturnedto formi a bot; tom engagingflange, eachsideporti'onof the countershaving a pluralityaof suitablyspaced slits cut therein across the. line ofgthe :ventex of the angle-between the.l sides and flange, the portions of each slit at the opposite sides of said line extending divergently therefrom towards the middle of the counter and terminating in the material thereof, to form a series of tongues in each side portion which extend towards the end thereof in the direction of said line, said slits being cut obliquely through the -material at an inclination to its surface to bevel said tongues on their inner sides.

9. A shoe counter of sheet material moulded in U-form to fit the heel end of a last and having one of its sides arranged to extend opposite the shank portion of a shoe and an inturned edge portion forming a bottom engaging flangesaid side portion having slits cut therein across the line of the vertex of the angle between the side and flange and obliquely to the surface of the material.

l0. A shoe counter of she-et material moulded in U-form to fit the heel end of a last and having one of its sides arranged to extend opposite the shank portion of a shoe and an inturned edge portion forming a bottom engaging flange, said side portion having a plurality of suitably spaced slits cut therein obliquely to the surface of the material and across the line of the vertex of the angle between said sides and flange, said slits being terminated in the material adjacent and at each side of said line.

11. A shoe counterl of sheet material moulded in U-form to fit the heel end of a last and having one of its sides arranged to extend opposite the shank portion of a shoe and one edge portion thereof inturned to form a bottom engaging flange, the shank portion of said side portion having one or more slits cut therein at an inclination to the surface of the mate-rial and across the line of the vertex of the angle between the side and flange, the portions thereof at opposite sides of said line being extended convergently to said line and being terminated in the material adjacent thereto.

12. A shoe counter of sheet material moulded in U-form to fit the heel end of a -last and having one of its side portions arv name to this s ing abottom engaging flange, the shank portion of said side portion havinV a plurality of suitably spaced slits cut t erein at an `inclination to the surface of the material and across the line of the Vertex of the angle between the side and flange, the portions of each slitat the oppositeV sides'of said line extending divergently therefrom? in position to form a series of under cut tongues which extend vin the direction of said line and Vare approximately bisee'ted thereby.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my eciication. EORGE E. BRITTAIN. 

